“Democracy for America members could not be more excited to endorse Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and the historic, people-powered campaign he’s running to become Michigan’s next Democratic Governor.

“Abdul is not only objectively running on one of the most fearlessly progressive, inclusive populist gubernatorial agendas in the country, he’s energizing grassroots voters and building the kind of bottom-up campaign Michigan Democrats need to win up and down the ballot in November.

“One of the reasons why we felt it was particularly important to speak out and endorse Abdul in Michigan’s race for Governor right now is because a multi-millionaire pharmaceutical executive is currently spending millions of dollars on cutesy TV ads to hide his past support for Republicans and fraudulently win the backing of progressives despite his blatantly rudderless politics.

“From the development of his bold urban and rural policy agendas to the grassroots organizing his team is doing in every corner of the state, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is doing the work to earn progressive support in Michigan’s race for Governor and that’s why I’m pleased to say he has Democracy for America’s endorsement.” -- Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director, Democracy for America

As a part of its work in the 2018 election cycle, Democracy for America intends to raise and spend more than $12 million in support of progressive candidates, make more than 2 million voter contacts, and support more than 250 candidates nationwide -- like Abdul El-Sayed -- in running inclusive populist campaigns committed to turning out the New American Majority of people of color and progressive white voters in November.

El-Sayed is the sixth gubernatorial endorsement DFA has made in the 2018 election cycle. Other gubernatorial endorsements the national grassroots progressive group has made this cycle includes Stacey Abrams in Georgia, David Garcia in Arizona, Andrew Gillum in Florida, Ben Jealous in Maryland, and Paulette Jordan in Idaho.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on receiving DFA’s endorsement in his race to become Michigan’s next Governor:

“Democracy for America has been leading the fight for justice, equity, and sustainability in our politics for the past 14 years. I am proud to walk this path with them to lead on our values in a Michigan that is hurting for universal healthcare, a livable wage, workers’ rights, and clean water. Together we will walk for our future." -- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is running for governor to make state government work for all Michiganders, and not just the privileged few. Abdul is a Rhodes scholar, physician and public health expert who, as Detroit’s health commissioner, launched a program to ensure every child who needed one got a free pair of glasses. Abdul is running on a platform of bold, progressive ideas to address the gaping inequality between the rich and poor, including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, passing Medicare for All to guarantee health care as a right, and making college tuition-free for families earning less than $150,000 a year.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and spent more than $54 million and made more than 21.9 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.